1st Specialist Congress for Rehabilitation Research and Care Management in Berlin

29.07.2010 11:05

AOK: Rehabilitation begins with the patient consultation and must be more tailored to the individual – greater networking is necessary / New examination concept for rehabilitation after stroke developed – practical test before launch

Rehabilitation for older people is still neglected: "There is a lack of transparency and networking with hospital treatment and home nursing care," said Dr. Rolf Hoberg, CEO of AOK Baden-Württemberg, at the 1st Specialist Congress for Rehabilitation Research and Care Management on Tuesday (July 6, 2010) in Berlin. Rehabilitation can only escape this marginalization through significantly improved cooperation between medical treatment and prevention.

Hoberg: „Research shows that good rehabilitation is always individualized and integrated. We now want to achieve this more effectively in the rehabilitation of older stroke patients.“ To this end, AOK Baden-Württemberg, together with the University of Heidelberg, will begin testing an intensive study with a comprehensive doctor's consultation, a so-called assessment, for its practical applicability starting in the fall.

According to Hoberg, the aim of the practical test is to provide rehabilitation tailored to each individual, which truly helps to shorten the overall duration of illness and prevent the need for care: "Ultimately, it is about the patient's independence, which is maintained or regained. Getting healthy and staying healthy for as long as possible in old age," is therefore the motto for AOK CEO Hoberg.

This new approach emerged from the "ARISE" study (Applied Rehabilitation Research Interdisciplinary Stroke Survey), conducted by the Institute of Gerontology at Heidelberg University. The institute's director, Professor Dr. Andreas Kruse, presented the study's findings at the congress in Berlin. "The study clearly demonstrated that age plays only a minor role in deciding whether and which rehabilitation services stroke patients should receive. Physical, psychological, and cognitive characteristics must be taken into account to achieve the fastest possible and, above all, lasting recovery," Kruse emphasized. He explained that physicians can now identify these characteristics during the assessment and thus tailor their decisions much more effectively to each individual patient.

For Dr. Christopher Hermann, Deputy Chairman of the Board of AOK Baden-Württemberg, this tailored rehabilitation is only the first step towards a sustainable improvement in healthcare provision in Germany. "By 2020, the number of people over 80 will increase from approximately four million to six million – an increase of around 50 percent. Conversely, the number of people of working age will decline by around eight percent." Politicians, scientists, and health insurance companies must act quickly to ensure the long-term financing of the healthcare system.

A demand that Prof. Dr. Ulla Walter, Director of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health System Research at the Hannover Medical School, fully supports.
„"The potential of older patients must be fostered in the future through appropriate care and support structures. The collaboration between AOK Baden-Württemberg and the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Heidelberg can serve as a blueprint for policymakers and clearly demonstrates initial approaches to solutions."“

Demographic problems are solvable

If societal trends continue as scientific findings suggest, the number of elderly and chronically ill people will continue to grow. One consequence, according to gerontologist Kruse, would be that "social security systems would no longer be able to cope with these demands. The potential for increasing the number of years lived in good health and independence has been clearly demonstrated. Utilizing this potential is not only important for the quality of life of individuals, but also for maintaining the capacity of social security systems."„

If these findings are not utilized, additional funding would inevitably be necessary, according to AOK CEO Hoberg: "If the number of people aged 80 and over increases to six million in the next ten years, this alone means that additional nationwide expenditures of around 28 billion euros will have to be financed. Neither the state nor health insurance funds could easily raise this sum." It is therefore also desirable to be able to live a life as long as possible without serious illnesses. "That is humane, natural, and ultimately also financially feasible through the social security system," said Hoberg.

For this reason, Heidelberg-based gerontologist Kruse makes a strong appeal to politicians to address this demographic problem more decisively. And not only that: "Only through a swift, concerted effort by politicians, scientists, and social security systems can we manage the difficulties facing society to any reasonable degree. But we mustn't forget the individual. We also need to appeal to the personal responsibility of every citizen. Good health in old age isn't given to you; you have to work for it – and that requires good, easily accessible services. We've taken valuable first steps together with AOK Baden-Württemberg and the ARISE study – further steps must follow."„